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1134983

registered interest
date	01/07/2019
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Speech and Language Therapy: Children
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference the June 2019 report of the Children’s Commissioner, We need to talk: access to speech and language therapy, if he will meet with the Local Government Association to discuss the implications for his Department's policies of the findings of that report.
tabling member constituency	Swansea West
tabling member printed	Geraint Davies
uin	269599
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/07/2019 answer text <p>We are committed to ensuring more effective support for children and young people with speech, language and communication needs (SLCN). Ministers from the Department for Education (DfE) regularly meet with local government to discuss issues relating to special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), including SLCN.</p><p> </p><p>On 20 May 2019, we held the first SEND ministerial roundtable meeting between ministers from the DfE, Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC) and key SEND stakeholders to help inform future SEND policy. We will also be using these meetings to help inform the SEND System Leadership Board which aims to improve joint working and strategic commissioning for all children and young people with SEND, including those with SLCN.</p><p> </p><p>On 20 June 2019, the government issued a letter to I CAN and The Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists. That letter responded to the Bercow One Year Anniversary update report, and was co-signed by ministers from the DfE, DHSC and the Ministry of Justice. The letter reaffirms our commitment to supporting children and young people with SLCN, and sets out the key action the government is taking to address SLCN. A copy of the letter will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.</p> answering member constituency Stratford-on-Avon answering member printed Nadhim Zahawi question first answered 05/07/2019 09:36:56 answering member 4113 label Biography information for Nadhim Zahawi
tabling member	155 label Biography information for Geraint Davies

1135681

registered interest
date	01/07/2019
answering body	Department of Health and Social Care
answering dept id	17
answering dept short name	Health and Social Care
answering dept sort name	Health and Social Care
hansard heading	Continuing Care: Finance
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of the number of applications received for NHS Continuing Healthcare Funding in England in each of the last three years.
tabling member printed	Baroness Altmann
uin	HL16774
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/07/2019 answer text <p>The following table provides the total number of referrals received for NHS Continuing Healthcare (CHC) for both Standard and Fast Track NHS CHC, for the years 2016/17 to 2018/19.</p><table><tbody><tr><td colspan="3"><p>Number of Referrals Received</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Period</p></td><td><p>Standard NHS CHC</p></td><td><p>Fast Track</p></td><td><p>Total NHS CHC</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2016/17</p></td><td><p>76,945</p></td><td><p>88,420</p></td><td><p>165,365</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2017/18</p></td><td><p>75,322</p></td><td><p>94,175</p></td><td><p>169,497</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2018/19</p></td><td><p>73,475</p></td><td><p>97,273</p></td><td><p>170,748</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p>NHS England collects and publishes data regarding the number of referrals completed, and of those, how many were assessed as eligible (as a percentage). A table showing these figures is attached due to the size of the data. The percentage of referrals agreed as eligible is based on the number of referrals ‘completed’ (rather than ‘referrals received’). Pre 2017/18 data did not use this counting methodology and therefore is not comparable. 2016/17 figures have therefore not been included.</p><p>The NHS CHC appeals process consists of clinical commissioning group local resolution and NHS England Independent Review. It is not possible to provide data on cases found eligible at local review or Independent Review as a percentage of applications initially assessed as not eligible.</p><p>We do not hold information on the percentage of NHS CHC referrals which were assessed as eligible within the requested time periods. NHS England does, however, hold information on the percentage of referrals completed within 28 days, and the latest annual information on this is included in the following table. This relates to Standard NHS CHC and not Fast Track NHS CHC.</p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td colspan="3"><p>% referrals within 28 days</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Period</p></td><td colspan="3"><p>Standard NHS CHC</p></td></tr><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p>Referrals completed</p></td><td><p>Referrals completed in 28 days</p></td><td><p>% completed in 28 days</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2018/19</p></td><td><p>76,803</p></td><td><p>53,504</p></td><td><p>70%</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p> </p> answering member printed Baroness Blackwood of North Oxford grouped question UIN HL16775 HL16776 HL16777 question first answered 15/07/2019 10:21:24 answering member 4019 label Biography information for Baroness Blackwood of North Oxford attachment 1 file name HL16774 data table formatted.docx title NHS CHC Referrals completed
tabling member	4533 label Biography information for Baroness Altmann

1135682

registered interest
date	01/07/2019
answering body	Department of Health and Social Care
answering dept id	17
answering dept short name	Health and Social Care
answering dept sort name	Health and Social Care
hansard heading	Continuing Care: Finance
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what percentage of applications for NHS Continuing Healthcare funding in England were accepted in each of the last three years.
tabling member printed	Baroness Altmann
uin	HL16775
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/07/2019 answer text <p>The following table provides the total number of referrals received for NHS Continuing Healthcare (CHC) for both Standard and Fast Track NHS CHC, for the years 2016/17 to 2018/19.</p><table><tbody><tr><td colspan="3"><p>Number of Referrals Received</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Period</p></td><td><p>Standard NHS CHC</p></td><td><p>Fast Track</p></td><td><p>Total NHS CHC</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2016/17</p></td><td><p>76,945</p></td><td><p>88,420</p></td><td><p>165,365</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2017/18</p></td><td><p>75,322</p></td><td><p>94,175</p></td><td><p>169,497</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2018/19</p></td><td><p>73,475</p></td><td><p>97,273</p></td><td><p>170,748</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p>NHS England collects and publishes data regarding the number of referrals completed, and of those, how many were assessed as eligible (as a percentage). A table showing these figures is attached due to the size of the data. The percentage of referrals agreed as eligible is based on the number of referrals ‘completed’ (rather than ‘referrals received’). Pre 2017/18 data did not use this counting methodology and therefore is not comparable. 2016/17 figures have therefore not been included.</p><p>The NHS CHC appeals process consists of clinical commissioning group local resolution and NHS England Independent Review. It is not possible to provide data on cases found eligible at local review or Independent Review as a percentage of applications initially assessed as not eligible.</p><p>We do not hold information on the percentage of NHS CHC referrals which were assessed as eligible within the requested time periods. NHS England does, however, hold information on the percentage of referrals completed within 28 days, and the latest annual information on this is included in the following table. This relates to Standard NHS CHC and not Fast Track NHS CHC.</p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td colspan="3"><p>% referrals within 28 days</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Period</p></td><td colspan="3"><p>Standard NHS CHC</p></td></tr><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p>Referrals completed</p></td><td><p>Referrals completed in 28 days</p></td><td><p>% completed in 28 days</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2018/19</p></td><td><p>76,803</p></td><td><p>53,504</p></td><td><p>70%</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p> </p> answering member printed Baroness Blackwood of North Oxford grouped question UIN HL16774 HL16776 HL16777 question first answered 15/07/2019 10:21:24 answering member 4019 label Biography information for Baroness Blackwood of North Oxford attachment 1 file name HL16774 data table formatted.docx title NHS CHC Referrals completed
tabling member	4533 label Biography information for Baroness Altmann

1135683

registered interest
date	01/07/2019
answering body	Department of Health and Social Care
answering dept id	17
answering dept short name	Health and Social Care
answering dept sort name	Health and Social Care
hansard heading	Continuing Care: Finance
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what percentage of rejected applications for NHS Continuing Healthcare funding in England were then granted on (1) first, and (2) second, appeal in each of the last three years.
tabling member printed	Baroness Altmann
uin	HL16776
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/07/2019 answer text <p>The following table provides the total number of referrals received for NHS Continuing Healthcare (CHC) for both Standard and Fast Track NHS CHC, for the years 2016/17 to 2018/19.</p><table><tbody><tr><td colspan="3"><p>Number of Referrals Received</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Period</p></td><td><p>Standard NHS CHC</p></td><td><p>Fast Track</p></td><td><p>Total NHS CHC</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2016/17</p></td><td><p>76,945</p></td><td><p>88,420</p></td><td><p>165,365</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2017/18</p></td><td><p>75,322</p></td><td><p>94,175</p></td><td><p>169,497</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2018/19</p></td><td><p>73,475</p></td><td><p>97,273</p></td><td><p>170,748</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p>NHS England collects and publishes data regarding the number of referrals completed, and of those, how many were assessed as eligible (as a percentage). A table showing these figures is attached due to the size of the data. The percentage of referrals agreed as eligible is based on the number of referrals ‘completed’ (rather than ‘referrals received’). Pre 2017/18 data did not use this counting methodology and therefore is not comparable. 2016/17 figures have therefore not been included.</p><p>The NHS CHC appeals process consists of clinical commissioning group local resolution and NHS England Independent Review. It is not possible to provide data on cases found eligible at local review or Independent Review as a percentage of applications initially assessed as not eligible.</p><p>We do not hold information on the percentage of NHS CHC referrals which were assessed as eligible within the requested time periods. NHS England does, however, hold information on the percentage of referrals completed within 28 days, and the latest annual information on this is included in the following table. This relates to Standard NHS CHC and not Fast Track NHS CHC.</p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td colspan="3"><p>% referrals within 28 days</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Period</p></td><td colspan="3"><p>Standard NHS CHC</p></td></tr><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p>Referrals completed</p></td><td><p>Referrals completed in 28 days</p></td><td><p>% completed in 28 days</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2018/19</p></td><td><p>76,803</p></td><td><p>53,504</p></td><td><p>70%</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p> </p> answering member printed Baroness Blackwood of North Oxford grouped question UIN HL16774 HL16775 HL16777 question first answered 15/07/2019 10:21:24 answering member 4019 label Biography information for Baroness Blackwood of North Oxford attachment 1 file name HL16774 data table formatted.docx title NHS CHC Referrals completed
tabling member	4533 label Biography information for Baroness Altmann

1135684

registered interest
date	01/07/2019
answering body	Department of Health and Social Care
answering dept id	17
answering dept short name	Health and Social Care
answering dept sort name	Health and Social Care
hansard heading	Continuing Care: Finance
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what percentage of applications for NHS Continuing Healthcare funding in England were accepted (1) within less than one month, (2) within less than three months, (3) within three to six months, (4) within six to 12 months, and (5) after 12 months, of the date of application.
tabling member printed	Baroness Altmann
uin	HL16777
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/07/2019 answer text <p>The following table provides the total number of referrals received for NHS Continuing Healthcare (CHC) for both Standard and Fast Track NHS CHC, for the years 2016/17 to 2018/19.</p><table><tbody><tr><td colspan="3"><p>Number of Referrals Received</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Period</p></td><td><p>Standard NHS CHC</p></td><td><p>Fast Track</p></td><td><p>Total NHS CHC</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2016/17</p></td><td><p>76,945</p></td><td><p>88,420</p></td><td><p>165,365</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2017/18</p></td><td><p>75,322</p></td><td><p>94,175</p></td><td><p>169,497</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2018/19</p></td><td><p>73,475</p></td><td><p>97,273</p></td><td><p>170,748</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p>NHS England collects and publishes data regarding the number of referrals completed, and of those, how many were assessed as eligible (as a percentage). A table showing these figures is attached due to the size of the data. The percentage of referrals agreed as eligible is based on the number of referrals ‘completed’ (rather than ‘referrals received’). Pre 2017/18 data did not use this counting methodology and therefore is not comparable. 2016/17 figures have therefore not been included.</p><p>The NHS CHC appeals process consists of clinical commissioning group local resolution and NHS England Independent Review. It is not possible to provide data on cases found eligible at local review or Independent Review as a percentage of applications initially assessed as not eligible.</p><p>We do not hold information on the percentage of NHS CHC referrals which were assessed as eligible within the requested time periods. NHS England does, however, hold information on the percentage of referrals completed within 28 days, and the latest annual information on this is included in the following table. This relates to Standard NHS CHC and not Fast Track NHS CHC.</p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td colspan="3"><p>% referrals within 28 days</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Period</p></td><td colspan="3"><p>Standard NHS CHC</p></td></tr><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p>Referrals completed</p></td><td><p>Referrals completed in 28 days</p></td><td><p>% completed in 28 days</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2018/19</p></td><td><p>76,803</p></td><td><p>53,504</p></td><td><p>70%</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p> </p> answering member printed Baroness Blackwood of North Oxford grouped question UIN HL16774 HL16775 HL16776 question first answered 15/07/2019 10:21:24 answering member 4019 label Biography information for Baroness Blackwood of North Oxford attachment 1 file name HL16774 data table formatted.docx title NHS CHC Referrals completed
tabling member	4533 label Biography information for Baroness Altmann

1135685

registered interest
date	01/07/2019
answering body	Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name	Treasury
answering dept sort name	Treasury
hansard heading	Income Tax: Pensioners
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what percentage of pensioners paid tax at (1) the 40 per cent, and (2) the 45 per cent, rate in each of the last three years.
tabling member printed	Baroness Altmann
uin	HL16778
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/07/2019 answer text <p>For this answer pensioners have been defined as those over State Pension Age (SPA). The definition used is consistent with average SPAs from HMRC’s published Income Tax Liabilities Statistics. The average female SPA for the purposes of this are 63.75 years in 2016-17 and 64.5 years in 2017-18 (the male SPA is 65 in both). The average male and female SPA in 2018-19 is 65.25.</p><p> </p><p>i)</p><p>Estimates of the number of pensioners who had tax liabilities at the 40% and 45% rates of income tax:</p><p> </p><p>Numbers: thousands</p><table><tbody><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p>2016-17</p></td><td><p>2017-18</p></td><td><p>2018-19</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>40%</p></td><td><p>537</p></td><td><p>514</p></td><td><p>508</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>45%</p></td><td><p>34</p></td><td><p>35</p></td><td><p>37</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p>i)</p><p>Estimates of the number of pensioners who had an annual income above £50,000 as:</p><p>Numbers: thousands</p><table><tbody><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p>2016-17</p></td><td><p>2017-18</p></td><td><p>2018-19</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Male</p></td><td><p>311</p></td><td><p>342</p></td><td><p>361</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Female</p></td><td><p>107</p></td><td><p>110</p></td><td><p>113</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Total</p></td><td><p>418</p></td><td><p>451</p></td><td><p>474</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p>ii)</p><p>Of these pensioners with income above £50,000, the age ranges are:</p><p>Numbers: thousands</p><table><tbody><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p>2016-17</p></td><td><p>2017-18</p></td><td><p>2018-19</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>60-64</p></td><td><p>9</p></td><td><p>5</p></td><td><p> </p></td></tr><tr><td><p>65-69</p></td><td><p>170</p></td><td><p>171</p></td><td><p>170</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>70-74</p></td><td><p>108</p></td><td><p>131</p></td><td><p>145</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>75+</p></td><td><p>131</p></td><td><p>143</p></td><td><p>158</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p>The number of 60-64 year old Pensioners reduces to zero by 2018-19 reflecting the increasing SPA for females over the time period shown.</p><p> </p><p>The figures for 2016-17 are based on the latest outturn data from the Survey of Personal Incomes (SPI), 2017-18 and 2018-19 are projections based on the 2016-17 SPI, which are projected using economic assumptions consistent with the Office for Budget Responsibility’s (OBR) March 2019 Economic and Fiscal Outlook.</p><p> </p><p>For comparison to the total population of pensioners, Office of National Statistics (ONS) estimates of the population of the UK give the number of individuals by age. The number of pensioners in the UK can also be estimated using the average state pension age in each tax year:</p><p> </p><p>12.3 million in 2016-17</p><p>12.2 million in 2017-18</p><p>12.0 million in 2018-19</p> answering member printed Lord Young of Cookham grouped question UIN HL16779 HL16863 question first answered 15/07/2019 16:39:10 answering member 57 label Biography information for Lord Young of Cookham
tabling member	4533 label Biography information for Baroness Altmann

1135686

registered interest
date	01/07/2019
answering body	Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name	Treasury
answering dept sort name	Treasury
hansard heading	Personal Income: Pensioners
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what is (1) the total number, and (2) the percentage, of pensioners who had an annual income above £50,000 in each of the last three years; and whether they have a gender breakdown for those data.
tabling member printed	Baroness Altmann
uin	HL16779
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/07/2019 answer text <p>For this answer pensioners have been defined as those over State Pension Age (SPA). The definition used is consistent with average SPAs from HMRC’s published Income Tax Liabilities Statistics. The average female SPA for the purposes of this are 63.75 years in 2016-17 and 64.5 years in 2017-18 (the male SPA is 65 in both). The average male and female SPA in 2018-19 is 65.25.</p><p> </p><p>i)</p><p>Estimates of the number of pensioners who had tax liabilities at the 40% and 45% rates of income tax:</p><p> </p><p>Numbers: thousands</p><table><tbody><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p>2016-17</p></td><td><p>2017-18</p></td><td><p>2018-19</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>40%</p></td><td><p>537</p></td><td><p>514</p></td><td><p>508</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>45%</p></td><td><p>34</p></td><td><p>35</p></td><td><p>37</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p>i)</p><p>Estimates of the number of pensioners who had an annual income above £50,000 as:</p><p>Numbers: thousands</p><table><tbody><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p>2016-17</p></td><td><p>2017-18</p></td><td><p>2018-19</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Male</p></td><td><p>311</p></td><td><p>342</p></td><td><p>361</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Female</p></td><td><p>107</p></td><td><p>110</p></td><td><p>113</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Total</p></td><td><p>418</p></td><td><p>451</p></td><td><p>474</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p>ii)</p><p>Of these pensioners with income above £50,000, the age ranges are:</p><p>Numbers: thousands</p><table><tbody><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p>2016-17</p></td><td><p>2017-18</p></td><td><p>2018-19</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>60-64</p></td><td><p>9</p></td><td><p>5</p></td><td><p> </p></td></tr><tr><td><p>65-69</p></td><td><p>170</p></td><td><p>171</p></td><td><p>170</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>70-74</p></td><td><p>108</p></td><td><p>131</p></td><td><p>145</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>75+</p></td><td><p>131</p></td><td><p>143</p></td><td><p>158</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p>The number of 60-64 year old Pensioners reduces to zero by 2018-19 reflecting the increasing SPA for females over the time period shown.</p><p> </p><p>The figures for 2016-17 are based on the latest outturn data from the Survey of Personal Incomes (SPI), 2017-18 and 2018-19 are projections based on the 2016-17 SPI, which are projected using economic assumptions consistent with the Office for Budget Responsibility’s (OBR) March 2019 Economic and Fiscal Outlook.</p><p> </p><p>For comparison to the total population of pensioners, Office of National Statistics (ONS) estimates of the population of the UK give the number of individuals by age. The number of pensioners in the UK can also be estimated using the average state pension age in each tax year:</p><p> </p><p>12.3 million in 2016-17</p><p>12.2 million in 2017-18</p><p>12.0 million in 2018-19</p> answering member printed Lord Young of Cookham grouped question UIN HL16778 HL16863 question first answered 15/07/2019 16:39:10 answering member 57 label Biography information for Lord Young of Cookham
tabling member	4533 label Biography information for Baroness Altmann

1135687

registered interest
date	01/07/2019
answering body	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept id	16
answering dept short name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept sort name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
hansard heading	Pakistan: Royal Visits
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government whether, during their forthcoming visit to Pakistan, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will visit (1) the slums inhabited by the minority Christian community, and (2) members of Shahbaz Bhatti’s family.
tabling member printed	Lord Alton of Liverpool
uin	HL16780
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/07/2019 answer text <p>​The details of the programme for the visit by Their Royal Highnesses The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge to Pakistan have not yet been agreed. For security reasons, we would not in any case comment on details in advance of the visit.</p> answering member printed Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon question first answered 15/07/2019 14:37:10 answering member 4210 label Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
tabling member	738 label Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool

1135688

registered interest
date	01/07/2019
answering body	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept id	16
answering dept short name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept sort name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
hansard heading	Pakistan: Minority Groups
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government when they last raised the plight of minorities in Pakistan with the Secretary-General of the Commonwealth; what response they received; and whether they asked the Secretary-General to raise continued human rights violations with the government of Pakistan.
tabling member printed	Lord Alton of Liverpool
uin	HL16781
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/07/2019 answer text <p>We continue to be in close contact with the Commonwealth Secretariat on its support to member states to live up to the commitments to tolerance, to human rights, good governance and the rule of law set out in the Commonwealth Charter.</p><p>In addition, the British Government will continue to urge Pakistan to honour in practice its human rights obligations, including those related to religious minorities, and to uphold the rule of law.</p> answering member printed Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon question first answered 15/07/2019 14:38:46 answering member 4210 label Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
tabling member	738 label Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool

1135689

registered interest
date	01/07/2019
answering body	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept id	16
answering dept short name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept sort name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
hansard heading	Pakistan: Blasphemy
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the sentencing of Shagufta Kauser and her husband to death in Pakistan for alleged blasphemy; what assessment they have made of whether Shagufta Kauser is (1) from a Christian minority, and (2) illiterate; what representations they have made to the government of Pakistan on her behalf; what response they have received to these representations; and what estimate they have made of the number of people currently facing the death sentence in Pakistan for alleged blasphemy.
tabling member printed	Lord Alton of Liverpool
uin	HL16782
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/07/2019 answer text <p>We continue to monitor the case of Shagufta Kauser and her husband Shafqat Emmanuel who were sentenced to death in April 2014. We understand that Shagufta Kauser is of the Christian faith and we are aware of media reports stating that she and her husband are both illiterate.</p><p>We regularly raise our concerns about the misuse of the blasphemy laws with the government of Pakistan at a senior level. The harsh penalties for blasphemy, including the death penalty, add to these concerns. We remain firmly opposed to the death penalty in all circumstances. We have repeatedly called upon the Government of Pakistan to end capital punishment and, as a minimum, commit to publicly renewing the previously imposed moratorium on the death penalty. Concerns about Freedom of Religion or Belief and the protection of minority religious communities were raised with Pakistan's Federal Minister for Human Rights, Dr Shireen Mazari, during a ministerial visit to Islamabad in February.</p><p>We do not hold figures for individuals on specific charges overseas. According to the US State Department 2018 Report on Freedom of Religion or Belief, at the time of publication, 77 individuals were imprisoned in Pakistan on blasphemy charges, 28 of whom had received death sentences.</p> answering member printed Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon question first answered 15/07/2019 14:41:26 answering member 4210 label Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
tabling member	738 label Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool